translated from German from MDR-Figaro radio http://www.mdr.de/mdr-figaro/literatur/siegfried-lenz108.html
On the death of the writer Siegfried Lenz
In addition to Günter Grass and Martin Walser Siegfried Lenz is considered one of the great voices of postwar German literature. In the GDR, where none of his novels was allowed to appear, his cool, yet wonderfully precise tone was estimated. On Tuesday, October 7, 2014, the author died at the age of 88 years with his family in Hamburg. An obituary for the "German Teacher", whose works have been translated into 35 languages.
"Lenz is one of the last, that you can call an enlighting writer, so honored him MDR FIGARO literary critic Michael Hametner at last. He regarded the discussion of the Nazi past Lenz regarded as a life task.
To Lenz's most important works include the novels "The German lesson" (1968) and "Heritage Museum" (1978). Great success also had his short stories (1955), the humorous stories from East Prussia "So tenderly Suleyken was" gathered.
In addition to Günter Grass and Martin Walser Siegfried Lenz is considered one of the great voices of postwar German literature. In the GDR, where none of his novels was allowed to appear, his cool, yet wonderfully precise tone was estimated. On Tuesday, October 7, 2014, the author died at the age of 88 years with his family in Hamburg. An obituary for the "German Teacher", whose works have been translated into 35 languages.
"Lenz is one of the last, that you can call an enlighting writer, so honored him MDR FIGARO literary critic Michael Hametner at last. He regarded the discussion of the Nazi past Lenz regarded as a life task.
To Lenz's most important works include the novels "The German lesson" (1968) and "Heritage Museum" (1978). Great success also had his short stories (1955), the humorous stories from East Prussia "So tenderly Suleyken was" gathered.
Co-founder of the group 47
Lenz was born on
March 17, 1926 in Lyck in East Prussia , son
of a customs official. After the
early death of the father, the mother
left the place with Lenz's sister,
and let the boy return with his grandmother. 13-year-old he was in the
Hitler Youth and was trained
in military training camps. At age 17, he passed his final secondary-school examinations and enlisted in the
Navy. He survived the sinking of the ship on which he did his first
service, deserted at the end
of the war and fell
into British captivity. After his release in 1945 he started studying philosophy
English literature and science in Hamburg, which he financed as a bootlegger and
blood donors. In 1948, he interrupted his education, however, and
worked for newspapers.
1951, Siegfried Lenz started to earn his living as a freelance writer, but he continued to work as an essayist and critic. In addition to Heinrich Böll and Günter Grass he was soon counted among the most widely read authors of the postwar period, the co-founder of the legendary "Group 47" in the public eye has never been a stimulus figure like the genius Grass and Martin Walser, but always the immensely knowledgeable author who preferred the accuracy of brilliance.
Novelist, master of Humoresque and "One Man Party"
1951, Siegfried Lenz started to earn his living as a freelance writer, but he continued to work as an essayist and critic. In addition to Heinrich Böll and Günter Grass he was soon counted among the most widely read authors of the postwar period, the co-founder of the legendary "Group 47" in the public eye has never been a stimulus figure like the genius Grass and Martin Walser, but always the immensely knowledgeable author who preferred the accuracy of brilliance.
Novelist, master of Humoresque and "One Man Party"
A worldwide success
was Lenz's novel
"The German Hour" (1968).
He tells about a
police officer in the Third Reich, who monitors with a perverted
sense of duty the ban to paint on friends. This book was also filmed and became required
reading at schools and scored
a first edition book
of more than 700,000
copies and assured the writer's economic independence.
In "Heritage Museum" (1978) - filmed by Egon Günther 1988 three-part TV-star cast - Siegfried Lenz brought the reader the life of Masuria and the tragedy of the expulsion from the near East Prussia. The main character is the carpet weaver Zygmunt Rogalla, who is on record because burns down his home museum that he once saved, burned, to save it from ideological abuse. In the picaresque stories under the title "So tender was Suleyken" was Lenz, however, recognize as a master of small but humorous form.
Millions of viewers found the television films "The man in power", "The Fire ship" and "The Mutiny", each with Jan Feddersen in the lead role. The oeuvre of Lenz includes novels, collections of short stories, plays, radio plays and essays - such as the self-image of the writer as a "one-man party".
In "Heritage Museum" (1978) - filmed by Egon Günther 1988 three-part TV-star cast - Siegfried Lenz brought the reader the life of Masuria and the tragedy of the expulsion from the near East Prussia. The main character is the carpet weaver Zygmunt Rogalla, who is on record because burns down his home museum that he once saved, burned, to save it from ideological abuse. In the picaresque stories under the title "So tender was Suleyken" was Lenz, however, recognize as a master of small but humorous form.
Millions of viewers found the television films "The man in power", "The Fire ship" and "The Mutiny", each with Jan Feddersen in the lead role. The oeuvre of Lenz includes novels, collections of short stories, plays, radio plays and essays - such as the self-image of the writer as a "one-man party".
Translated
into 35
languages, book sold all over the
world: 30 million
Lenz, who came from Elk in Masuria, was politically active for reconciliation with Poland and Israel. These efforts paid tribute to the former Federal President Christian Wulff to Lenz's 85th birthday. Lenz was a freeman of the city of Hamburg and its Masurian birthplace Lyck, now part of Poland and is now called Elk.
Even in old age Lenz succeeded with his first love story "Minute of silence" a bestseller. In 2011 appeared his last short story collection "The Mask". Lenz works are translated according to the Hoffmann und Campe Verlag, whom Lenz was faithful all his life, in at least 35 languages. The book sold in the world should be over 30 million.
Lenz, who came from Elk in Masuria, was politically active for reconciliation with Poland and Israel. These efforts paid tribute to the former Federal President Christian Wulff to Lenz's 85th birthday. Lenz was a freeman of the city of Hamburg and its Masurian birthplace Lyck, now part of Poland and is now called Elk.
Even in old age Lenz succeeded with his first love story "Minute of silence" a bestseller. In 2011 appeared his last short story collection "The Mask". Lenz works are translated according to the Hoffmann und Campe Verlag, whom Lenz was faithful all his life, in at least 35 languages. The book sold in the world should be over 30 million.
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